By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The new owner of the old Westport Inn is seeking to boost the number of rooms from 75 to 86.

The outside of the proposed Delamar Westport would not change, application materials state. Inside, rooms would be reconfigured.

“The proposed plan will have fewer large hotel suites in favor of smaller typical hotel rooms,” an explanatory statement filed with the application reads.

“The proposed addition will increase from 15 to 18 keys and bedrooms on each of the first two floors while the third floor will go from 4 keys to 12 keys and 10 bedrooms to 15 bedrooms,” it reads. “The existing building’s first floor will be reduced from 19 to 18 rooms and keys, and the second floor will be reduced from 22 to 20 rooms and keys for a total increase of keys from 75 to 86 and 81 to 89 rooms.”

The application notes that the switch from the vacant Westport Inn, 1595 Post Road East, to a boutique hotel already came with a reduction in rooms, from 116 to 75. That plan was approved by the P&Z on Oct. 24.

The old Westport Inn was mothballed during the pandemic. Its new operator will be Delamar, a chain with properties in Connecticut and beyond. The nearest is located in the Southport section of Fairfield.

The P&Z’s October approval included a text amendment to zoning regulations to accommodate the boutique hotel, and also the site plan.

The request to modify the approved plan was submitted on behalf of Delmar Westport LLC by Rick Redniss of Redniss and Mead.

The P&Z has an online meeting planned for 7 p.m. Monday, but the Delmar application is not on the agenda. Its next meeting after that is Feb. 13.

Thane Grauel, executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond more than three decades. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.